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Wednesday, November 5, 2014

Carrots, Eggs or Coffee? Which One Are YOU

Grandmother says... Carrots, Eggs, or Coffee; "Which are you?"

A young woman went to her grandmother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved a new one arose.Her grandmother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water. In the first, she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs and

the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil without saying a word.

In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her granddaughter, she asked, "Tell me what do you see?"

"Carrots, eggs, and coffee," she replied.

She brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they got soft.She then asked her to take an egg and break it.

After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg.

Finally, she asked her to sip the coffee. The granddaughter smiled, as she tasted its rich aroma. The granddaughter then asked. "What's the point,grandmother?"

Her grandmother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity--boiling water--but each reacted differently.

The carrot went in strong, hard and unrelenting. However after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior. But, after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened.

The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water they had changed the water.

"Which are you?" she asked her granddaughter.

"When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean?"

Think of this: Which am I?

Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity, do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength?

Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff?

Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and a hardened heart?

Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you.

When the hours are the darkest and trials are their greatest do you elevate to another level?

161 comments:

o.k i wish i am a coffee but i need someone to comfort me for i feel too lonely at times...and wishing loving care from a far...from a person who could understand me very well and who knows everything of me...where i became a glass...

Dear One, maybe you need to look away from yourself so much.There is 5 i's and 3 me's. Try some voluntary work. You will be surprised to find the more you give,the more you will receive. God loves you.

Wow great story, so inspiring. I needed time to think what I actually was. I'm not a carrot I've been through an awful lot and came out the other side stronger. Then I thought I may be an egg but yet when I am struggling through my hard times I may be bitter and angry or like the carrot cry for the fun of it but yet when I get through the hard times, with gods help, I feel so happy that the hard times are over and I learn a lot from the experience. So I figured out I'm a lot like the coffee bean, I look small and weak but through hard times I become strong and mighty :)

Great story. Before reading it, but it is a lot like I had been thinking about previous to reading it, so it's just confirmation as to what I have thought and prayed about. The steps back evaluating and analyzing my life to have strength, courage and wisdom to make some much needed changes for the better, slow down and enjoy my daughter and being a good, loving and caring understanding mom to her. Life is way too short.

I was a carrot. I became a bean after working for a micro manager who felt better putting her employees down to make herself feel better. Through those difficult times, i trusted God that there was a purpose for me there. I would ask him help me learn quickly what I needed to learn & to remove from the situation. After 2-1/2 years of agony, i left. I felt God's peace, even though now i didn't have a job. My husband had been laid off 6 weeks prior. I had to trust God for our provision. I got another job 6 weeks later & my husband 5 or 6 mo later. We didn't have a big cushion but by God's grace, my husband got a job the week we ran out if money. What I learned from that experience was that if you get soft (carrot) when people bully, they will take advantage. If you harden (egg) your heart, you only hurt yourself. (that has never been my problem). Instead, that experience changed me for the better (coffee). I am self-confident, have learned to set the expectation on how I want to be treated. Difficult times are meant to change us; to help us grow. I trusted God & I am very blessed for it. I have the job I love & appreciate me in my work. Irma

I AM COFFEE.......unfortunately, I am an analytical individual. Once the question was posed, I immediately began to weigh the options. I then realized that they all were affected by the hot water, but in different ways. The only one that made since to me was the coffee. Only the coffee wud change the atmosphere, the other two only responded. I AM AN ATMOSPHERE CHANGER.....ARE YOU COFFEE TOO?

I'm so glad I found this story.Sadly,I'm an egg. Certain events in my life have definitely hardened me.I need to change,I know that. If I don't,I risk losing someone who has loved me for a lifetime....

I think I was born an egg, but with all sorts of life challenges, my first love told me how unique I was, then he passed on, while I continued like a carrot to be a bit soft to many adversities, ergo home, family, travel thus truly I realized that to work on myself is to work with others. What a robust rich flavor have I been blessed with through pain, hardships * loss & loving to give benevolently like strong coffee needed to keep me awake, aware, always astonished with making people laugh, smile or happy to still be alive. Alléluia bless the coffee bean!

Thank God for your blog & words of thought! This has allowed many (as well as me) that have visited this sight-something to give thought to. Self examination is something we all should take into consideration because who or where we may think we are-may not be so-but God knows us All. Seeking, Asking... Him- we will get an answer to who or where our PURPOSE should be and get there-Proverb 3:5-6, "TRUST..." B BLESSED & PRESS!!!

hi, everyone does needs comfort but sometimes you have to think that not only having someone to comfort us can make us feel that we're ok.. we must think that we must love ourself first and understand it before someone can.. :) smile and live each day that your capable of..i know you can smile smile smile and people will notice you...i can be your friend to0..\+63 933 922 7744 anytime you need a friend :)

Great reply. That's so true. If you sit back and do nothing then everyone controls you to make you soft(carrot) or bitter and hard hearted(egg) we should all be like the coffee bean and change the situation. Not let the situation change us ;)

I truly needed to read that story, it made me think n analysis my life's surroundings..... I can honestly say that I'm coffee! I am so thankful n joyful to have God n others to show n share words of wisdom with me......God bless us all in Jesus name, amen

Youth seems to be the coffee - every action wants to attract attentionworking/adult life forces us in most times to be an egg in order to protect ourselfes and then ... after work life is over it's wonderful to become the carrot. Being soft is the strongest power to laugh with others.All three of them change the water: black, white and smooth orange. The mixture of all colours make a full picture (life)

Find strength in God's word. And find a good church where God's word is preached and people will love you. It might take a while to find the right one but there is one ready just for you. Put your trust in Jesus because He loves you so much .

When I was very little, I faced a lot of pain...and was very much the carrot. when I was a young adult...I became the egg, bent on repaying the world the pain built up in me.

then one morning I woke up, faced my reality....stated to my self...no more victim personality. I will not let my past define my future. I will define it with compassion, and strength. I would no longer repay my pain with evil, but face the wrongs I suffered, by bringing peace and being better. I became coffee. and am raising four lovely children, who I hope will also be coffee.

this sounds like me also i work on being coffee and then the carrots and hard boiled eggs sneak in. each day i try to go back to the coffee some way and find your inspiration and people around me that help keep my coffee an important part of my life.

Treat everyday like a new one...I always tell everyone..I'm duck everyday is a new day and you have two choices. .either let the past day effect today and put you in a sour mood...or wake up and tell yourself its going to be a great day...the mountains took more more then a day to build/create..so take one day at a time to build your mountain...

I would have to say that I am coffee because I turn to God and rely on Him to help me make it through whatever situation I happen to be in. I have been unemployed due to being disabled since 2007. I have been fighting with S.S.Disability since then and still after having a court date of March 26th, 2013 I still haven't heard anything and it is now May 5th, 2013. I spent 2 years living on the streets and now I live in a nice apartment that I was able to get through the Housing Authority. I don't have much but I'm grateful for the things that I do have and God gives me the strength to be possitive throughout all of the adversity that I have been facing. I have made it a point to change to survive.So yes I would definitely have to say that I am coffee.

I would like to print this out & mail it to my daughter. I see no way to do that here. Could you please email it to me @ beastrider15@yahoo.com? Or email me a way to print it so that I may send it to her. She is going thru some really rough times right now & I think this might help her.Thank you in advance. Luv, hugs & prayers for sharing this w/so many.

I realized reading this story that at different times in my life I was the carrot later I was the egg I am proud to say that now I am the coffee its all in how you see the different situations in your life .

Lovely said...that's the spirit. I guess people who have survived and look up at the hard times as better days instead the worst make us more stronger and the exact chance where we could feel that the love of God exists.

Ive read this story before and at that time just thought it was beautifull ,however now im facing so much and this story really make me feel better.ive even cry coz God knows when u only doing ur best it seems the more people want to bring u down,when u give the more they expect and take u for granted,i pray to the Lord that He help me through this .because i know and believe in the end God will take u in is arms and say I KNEW YOU WOULD MAKE IT,UNTIL THAT DAY I HAVE TO STAND STRONG EVEN IF I HAVE TO BE A CARROT,EGG OR A COFFEE BEAN.IN THE END ALL WILL BE WELL GOD BLESS AND KEEP US SAFE IN JESUS NAME AMEN.

Actually im all of them. I see myself as a carrot, people who dont know me see me as an egg, my family sees me as coffee. Good thing i like.long showers where i do my meltdowns wont cry in front of anyone.

I really enjoyed this as a 22 year old women with 4 children sometimes sitiutions gets the best of me but with the help of god I'm working on fixing me ..and I don't really know how to start becuz I'm very afarid of change but I am will to change the sitiution around me in order for me to be happy but sometimes I can't help but run from the sititon so which one am I

I was born in France into the military life...My dad was in the Army over 22yrs. Next we lived in Japan...I don't want to explain the countries we lived in....Part of it was great but moving every 2yrs. and making new friends with different schools all the time was hard.... I remember being nervous as a kid each time we moved until I got used to each place and by then we had to move again. I am a worrier and I hate that about myself. I am a Christian but in the flesh we all have something we wish we could change.

I just want to say you just told my story as if u were with me the entire time! Omg, I can not believe wut I just read! I would love to friend request you but u put anonymous & can understand why. Nobody understands how bad your life can be wen uv hit rock bottom & homeless. I to became disabled in 2004 & got injured in the gym and it took 5yrs to be able to walk again After 3 back surgeries & a staph infection that ate my spinal cord & both hips I lost everything! Job, home, will to live, friends but I had 2 reasons to live for, I had 2 children & was a single mother! Talk about hard, mentally & physically! Ive never spoken to someone that could understand wut all this had done to my life. I would like to add you on my Facebook, if you don't mind I would love to hear more about your story so I'll leave it up to u. Here is my fb name Bobbie Fitzhugh Clarke, if u deside to add me send me a message to let me know/remind how I may know u. I really hope u take this opportunity to share more of ur story with me because I believe it would be therapeutic in helping the healing process of the mental impact it took on me & my children. Well please don't think im crazy I was just in shock wen I read your story, my heart went out to u but I do know alot about ur disability case & can probably inform u of wut to expect next, I went through it all. So sorry for boring you or sounding crazy over ur story, I really hope to hear from you. I don't even know if you'll get this unless u signed back on here. That's probably not gonna happen! Lol never thought about that!

I never thought of that way what a way to remember how life and how God throws us a curve ball. We need to take the time to figure out which one are we really. I love this poem what a feeling to know that someone out there does really understand. Thank you

Thank you for sharing. I think i have been all 3 of them at different moments in my life. It is so important to take the time to reflect on how we process difficulties. I pray that God will help us all make the changes to turn to Him in those critical moments when only He can help us be coffee... Thank you for the victories!

happy to read this.... too... sad to come into a realization that Iam an egg. But, I've tried harder to go with that persons who try to put pain on me and be humble, try to forgive and trust them over and over.... how could i ever change the environment... trusting someone you love but still repeating to break your heart...?

It's an Amazing Story. I have a problem...my carrot & egg & coffee are all in the same pot! lol I can be soft and sweet and nice but if I find out you've lied to me...well my water begins to boil my egg begins to harden as I get mad but when it's all over and done....ewww YUCK...THAT DON'T TASTE LIKE COFFEE!!! Don't ever stop laughing or praying!!!

I used to be like the coffee, after meeting my ex I became like a carrot,,, and am trying to be like an egg and a coffee again because of my precious daughter ... God is always by my side and this lovely story open up my eyes to the reality again...

what a touching story that i won't forget. i didn't know exactly who am i, am trying to combine puzzles which is my life and try to figure out who am i exactly. with this story i think it bought many puzzles that i need to complete my life, thank you very much for this story, i assure i will pass it to my kids the day i will have one. thank you very much.

I have been all three to be honest, during the breakup of marriage, I was like the carrot, got weak, then thru the years following, I like the egg, I hardened my heart, now I'm in my.early 60's I am brewing, adapting, refreshing new thoughts & feelings, I'm feeling much more aromatic.

I think in life, we go through the 3 stages - carrot, egg or coffee. Nobody said that life is easy. If we allow ourselves to grow through the experiences we have, we become the best person that we can be. A situation is only a situation, it's our reaction that makes the difference. In life's challenges, I learned to be pliant like a bamboo - learning to bend when the wind of adversity strikes so as not to break. :-)

I have been all three at one time or another> It is easy to become the carrot and not stand up for what you believe in and follow along like a sheep. It is even easier to wall yourself off to hurt and become the egg. Being a coffee bean is the road less traveled and therefore the one with the most pot holes and rubble. To maintain a loving and caring heart you really have to pay attention to life and the lessons you learn.

Well, after reading that I think we should all get up in the morning and choose one of our fingers at random and smack it real hard with a hammer. Out of that adversity, I'm sure something good will come from it and teach us a valuable lesson. Better yet, we should pick a random person off the street each day and share this experience each day by hitting them over the head with a hammer. I'm sure there will be some benefit from this adversity to help them. Therefore, I hope we've learned from that revelation that we don't necessarily need adversity to learn by. Life is an evolution. We find what works and we follow the path of least resistance to achieve what we need. Sure, there are roadblocks that hinder us but we don't have to be hit with a hammer to find our way. Well, maybe some of us do.... I'll be willing to be that for every adverse effect that had a positive outcome there lingers some mostly unseen scar with a negative component. I think most successful business people are driven by some haunting negative life experience that left then with some form of insecurity that drives them. Take for instance corporal punishment for children. Spanking a child is for the benefit of the parent, not the child. It's intent is to expedite the learning of the child because the parent doesn't have the time for a prolonged learning process to correct the child's behavior. Think about that for a moment and tell me why I'd be wrong with that conclusion. Then realize the analogy of the carrot, egg and bean is not to benefit those entities but instead the selfish needs of the Grandmother to consume them for her own benefit…

Do we have a choice how we react? Well, let's do an experiment and see. Take out a hammer, hold it firmly in one hand and place the other hand out on a table or other flat firm surface and hit one of your fingers on the nail portion really hard and "choose" not to react to it, cry out, drop the hammer or grab your hand and dance around. Now, if you can do that, then you have the ability to choose how you react. I know this is an extreme situation but it is pretty relative to your ability to "choose" or not, both physically and emotionally. You don't get to "choose" anywhere near as much as you think you do and if anyone tries to convince you otherwise, they're just stringing you along for their own selfish motives. Truth is, you can "choose" the environment that will best alter your unconscious ability to change direction by pilling up new experiences to overcome old unwanted experiences of your past. Seldom do you alter your course (or make choices) spontaneously on the spot. If you think you can then do the hammer test mentioned above and let me know how that turns out.

Realizing that every circumstance, problem, event and even life itself is temporary, I choose to take life as it comes. Each day is different--some days are full of joy--some days are full of heartbreaks and some days are filled with both. Most importantly all nights are filled with hope for a great morning not only for myself but everyone.

I am a worrier wish I could change it. And jealous of material things that other people have! I know that is awful but can't shake it. But I am strong when I need to be. But a very lonely person. I can't seem to find any answers. I don't fully understand the God thing. He never seems to be there for me. I don't want to be lonely and unhappy. I need someone or something.

I love stories like these because they make you think about things of the choice you have to make of how you behave. I feel it is a good lesson even though others don't feel it is that great.

The choices you make today and how you react really do affect your life in the future.

Sure it's hard to treat everything the same but the choice is you can become depressed and let life beat you down, you can become bitter, or you can learn how to better deal with it.

I've had a lot of hard times and I've been depressed, recently I was angry about being sexually assaulted at work but the managers did nothing about it. So I can either be depressed or angry about it for the rest of my life which can make me become a bad person or choose to deal with it and move on.

I went through my depression, my anger, and now it's time for me to move on. I will never forget but I will know what I could do better next time.

Thank u this story just came on my timeline I really need to hear this right now having just have my husband walk out on me in a lot of pain just now with gods help I am going to strive to be coffee right now I am an egg :-)

I like your comment...And I think that I'm also all three because I'm very soft, hard and bitter at times and I'm strong in times of trials and struggles and I really think the mixture of all three really makes a full picture of life and it makes you a stronger person!!!!!

I wish you peace and that you find your answers in God's time. Sometimes we can't know what God has planned for us but he definately has the plans he wants for us in his own time. Just keep praying every day to God and he will answer you. Don't give up praying and believe always that what is happening to you is for the best for your situation. Hang in there.

Just reminded me my battles in life in the past. I asked my husband what if my glass was been full and was been overflow? He answered me, " get another glass and let it full again". Until I realized he's right like what God say's, "you should be forgive not only 7 times but 77 times". I was then very patient at all times and have much more faith with God.

I think that was a beautiful story and i suppose we go through all the stages in life depending on the situation we have to face. I think it is up to each other to realise how to overcome the hardships in life. I think life is hard any way you look at it, you just have to learn to roll with the punches. There are times when you feel like carrot, others when you feel like the egg, and others like the coffee beans.

some one hit this person with a hammer so they can get the point'' cuz it does make sence if u read it right. i know i am granny of 21 and half of them aint mine by blood' but i been useing the carrot,egg. bean deal for year and none of them is dead or n jail..all of them have happy lives and no i was not selfish but i did benefit from itand they did too its call RESPECT

ok lets do another experiment and see... true, u have a choice to put all three things in the water, u have a choose to hit urself with a hammer, but jeuse had a choice too would u be able to make the same choice that he made?... which of the three a bove would u do?

Don't think you are sad and pathetic! I know I have felt the same. Try to draw the tiniest bit of strength from within yourself and build yourself up. Say the exact opposite " I am a strong woman....hear me roar!" Start to believe in yourself.

We all knowe what we whant in life.... It's the situations that get in the way we are all carrots eggs and coffee as woman we have to be strong not just for the kids but for eveyone that comes into our lives

I have been all three and am not ashamed to say that it is a continuous learning curb. Carrot, Egg and Coffee have an uncanny way of showing us how fruit, vegetables, meat and condiments have a meaning in our lives. Not just because we eat them but because of the changes to them which reflects our humanity.

All of the above was in my life and yes it just makes you a better person. Sometimes you think why, but the answer will come to you once you are quiet. I learned that it's just what you make of it! I have been there and learned a few lessons in live. THANKS GRANDMA!

Great story, grandmas are great arent they, so kind and wise. All those years of wisdom, they have probably been there, done that or seen just about everything. Talk to your elders their advise is like answers just waiting to be asked.

Touching, touching. I love all three. carrots, Eggs and Cofee. I'm faced with all this in my lifetime, but I like coffee when the things are at their worst you get better and change the situation around you.

The coffee was only able to do this once the beans were made into grounds. You could say the same for the carrot because you can now make a sweet cake from it's soft pulp. After facing the hot water the egg is no longer fragile but strong and firm. I'm just saying!

every one goes through these 3 phases in their lifetime life has a funny way of measuring these things for you the trick is never to give up when one door closes another will open it will enfold before you as you get older i have been through it and i know i look back now on my life and just marvel what has happened and it is amazing unfortunately you cant see forward you just have to have faith and believe in yourself never give up and there is always someone there to help just be a nice person people will take notice

Well, carrots make me gassy; I'm allergic to eggs; and coffee makes me more neurotic than I already am.

j/k ;)

In all sincerity now, I've been all three and I've lived to laugh later. Laugh at myself and at life. I still look back on some of the hard times and my heart hurts with bittersweet recollection, but I wouldn't trade any of it for the wisdom that I received in return. I love that I can coach others with what I've learned travelling on the Path, and my suggestions, offering a paradigm shift in some cases, do seem to resonate with some if they're receptive to a little BTDT advice.

So I am now the water. Fluid, adaptable, soft and nourishing, but determined enough to erode rock.

I really hope I am like the coffee bean. My desire is to uplift and encourage people. That God can fill me with His presence and bring joy into lives. I don't care about the material things but only to be what He wants me to be every day.

I have been all three at one time or another. And learned a few lesson In life. I truly try to be the coffee but, I think I end up being the egg more often than not. This story has told me a lot bout my life,and what ive learn is to be STRONGER in Life.

I really love this story and find it very inspirational, especially while I am going through hard times right now. My question is how do I apply this to my life, when some of my burdens are financial, and I know it will get better in time, but there are some expenses that can't wait. Any suggestions would greatly be appreciated.

I can honestly say that I have been the first 2 (Carrot, and the egg) for a while. I was young, but as your self worth and self esteem grows you become like the coffee bean. Only through Jesus do we learn how to be humble, and walk that path of righteousness. So when he knocks will you listen?

This is a wonderful thought provoking story. Life has dealt me some hard knocks but I've got back up, dusted myself down and got on with it!. I have learned that these hard knocks were lessons in life I needed to learn. I am also stubborn and won't let anything beat me or get me down!. I have a lot of medical conditions such as Epilepsy and Fibromyalgia but I do not let it get me down!. These are two hard challenges that I have learnt from.